Safety device for laundry machines



H. mmm

SFETY DEVICE FOR LAUNDRY MHJTIINHS Filed Jun@ 1"?, 19m mmmtssmmwwt Si PLLQTM mmm ummm mm Mmmm MMI-1mm Film June im, 1.934, 2 Sheetwhewt E 5am QU1 /W www@ HNVENTUW Herbe/PLLcU/V W W M @MN m (fafa/VM MWRNEY wringer hasbeen raised to its erect or workilg position.' The operation of the boltis e ected by means of a handle 26 pinned to its outer end.

Since it is desired to preventvthe releasing of the wringer whenl themotor is in operation, a bolt stop is provided which cooperates with thebolt handle to retain the bolt against longitudinal movement until ithas been set in a predetermined position where a notch 2S, provided inthe handle, alines 'with the stop. In order to eiiect the stopping ofthe motor through the setting of the-handle toy permit longitudinalmovement 'of the bolt,

a rack-and-pinion mechanism is interposed between the bolt and motorcontrol. As will be observed by reference to Fig. 3, the raclr--and-pinion mechanism includes a pinion 2li fixed to the bolt 25 andmeshing with a rack 23 slidably-mounted in the housing 22.

Since itis desired to effect the operation of the switch 18 as the boltis set or longie tudinal movement, the rack 23 is disposed in 4alinementwith the slide 19 and is so positioned that, when the handle is operatedto aline the notch 28 with the stop 27, it is projected to the limit ofits downward movement, forcing the slide 19 downward. It is further tobe noted that the pinion is so positioned on 'the bolt that, as latteris moved longitudinally to release the wringer, the pinion engages thewall o1 i housing 22 at the limit of lthe desired` iene of the bolt andwhile the hanV till positioned over the stop 27. us, the bolt is heldagainst rotation andthe slide 19 is locked in its lowermost position,where it prevents the manual operation of the switch.

Further, thewringer flange or plate 17 prevents movement of the bolt tothe right, as viewed in Fig. 3, as long .as the wringer remains in itsfolded position. In order to facilitate the mounting of the bolt, pinionand rack, the housing is provided with a door 29 that may be mounted toswing about either a vertical or a horizontal axis.

In describing the operation of the interlock, it may be assumed that thewashing machine is brought 'from the store room. with the wringer in itsJfolded position and the switch locked against manual operation. Toprepare the machine for use, the wringer is raised to its erect oroperating` position, alining the bolt-receiving openingl with the bolt.In ordert'o maintain the wringer in its operative position, the bolt 25is moved to the right," positively engaging the wringer. as shown inFig. 3. The handle 26 is now out of engagement with the stop 27 and isthe motor at will.

When it is desired to return the wringer 10 to its folded position., thebolt 25 must be withdrawn to permit the wringer to be rotated about itsaxis. In order to with draw the bolt 25, the handle 2G must be set sothat the notch 28 alines with the stop 27. In setting the handle topermit longitudinal movement ofthe bolt 25, it must he rotatedclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, thereby effecting therotation of thebolt .fis 'the bolt 25 is rotated, the rack-and-pinion mechanism isoperated, projecting the slide l5) downward, operating the switch lever20 to break the motor circuit. Thus, in operating): the lockingmechanism to release the wringer, the motor control is operated to slopthe motor. When the bolt 25 occupies iisextreme lett-hand position, theslot 28 lits over the stop 27 and thus locks the switch in openposition.. Accordingly, the wringer cannot be thrown into its foldedposition without first stopping the motor. lhuther, when the bolt 25 hasbeen withdrawn to release the wringer, the bolt handle 2G is locked inengagement with the stop 27, thus making it impossible to set the motorin oper- L ation until the wringer has been raised to its operativeposition and the bolt projected into its locking position.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction anddilierent embmlin ments of the invention may he made without departingfrom the scope thereof?, it is intended that all matter contained in'the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall beinterpreted as illustrative, and not in alimited sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a washing machine, in combination. a foldable wringer, a drivingmotor for the wringer, a switch for the motor, and interdependent meansfor locking the wringerin a predetermined position and for controllingthe operation of the switch.

2. In a washing machine provided with a driving motor and a oldablewringer, the combination of a motor control, a locking member disposedto loclr the wringer in operative position, means actuated by saidlocking member to operate the motor control, and means for retaining thelocking member in its locking position when the motor is in operation.

3. In a washing machine provided with n driving motor and a foldablewringer, the combination of a motor control, a locking 'lli gli

lllli lll member disposed to lock the Wringer in o erative position,means actuated by said loc ing member to operate the motor control, andmeans for retaining t'he locking member in its locking position when themotor is in operation, said locking-member retaining means being adaptedto permit the unlocking of the wringer when the motor control has beenoperated to stop the motor.

4. In a washing machine provided with a driving motor and a foldablewringer, the combination of a bolt provided with an operating handledisposed to engage the wringer to lock it in an operative position, amotor control operable by said bolt, a bolt stop cooperative with saidbolt-operating handle to retain the bolt in its locking position whenthe motor is in operation and to permit the Withdrawal of the bolt whenthe motor control has been operated to stop the motor.

5. In a washing machine provided with .a driving motor and a foldablewringer, the combination of a bolt provided with an operating handledisposed to engage t e wringer to lock it in operative position, a motorcontrol operable by said bolt to stop the motor, a bolt stop cooperativewith said bolt-operating handle to retain the bolt in its lockingposition when the motor is in operation and to permit withdrawal of thebolt when the motor control has been operated to stop the motor.

6. In a washing machine provided with a drivingr motor and a foldableWringer, the combination of a xbolt disposed for rotary and longitudinalmovement and adapted to engage the wringer to lock it in operativeposition, said boltv being provided with an operating handle, a motorcontrol, means operable-upon the rotation of the bolt to actuate themotor control, a bolt stop cooperative with said handle to retain thebolt in engagement with the Wringer when the motor is in operation.

7. In a Washing machine provided with a driving motor and a foldableWringer, 'the combination of a bolt disposed for rotary and longitudinalmovement adapted to engage the Wringer to lock it in operative position,said bolt being provided with an operating handle, a motor control,means operable upon the rotation of the bolt to actuate the motorcontrol, a bolt stop cooperative permit movement over the sto with saidhandle to retain the bolt in engagement With the Wringer when the motoris in operation, said handle being notched to permit movement over thebolt stop when the motor control has been operated to stop the motor,thereby releasing the wrinfrer. 4

8. In a Washing machine provided with a driving motor and afoldablewringer, the combination of a bolt disposed for rotary andlongitudinal movement adapted to engage the Wringer to lock it inoperative position, said bolt being provided with an operating handle, amotor control, a rack-andpinion mechanism operated by the rotation ofthe bolt and cooperative to effect the operation of the motor control, abolt stop positioned to engage the handle to prevent the releasing ofthe Wringer when the motor is in operation, said handle being notched towhen the motor control has been operate 'to stop the motor.

9. In a washing machine provided with a driving motor and a foldableWringer, the combination of a locking member disposed for longitudinaland rotary motion and adapted to engage the Wringer, said Wringer beingprovided With an opening for the reception of the locking member, astopcooperative With said locking member to retain it in engagement with theWringer when the motor is in operation, said locking member beingadapted for movement transversely of the stop when the motor has beenstopped, and means operable by said locking member to effect theoperation of said motor control.

10. In a washing machine provided with a driving motor and a foldableWringer, an interlock comprising a locking member disposed to engage theWringer, a motor control operable by the locking member, meanscooperative to retain the locking member in engagement with the Wringerwhen the motor control is in its on position, said retaining means beingadapted to prevent the operation of the locking member when the wringeris moved from its erect position, thereby to retain the motor control 1nits oif position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 6th day ofJune 1924.

HERBERT LOUTH.

